🔗 Share this article

A court official has rejected Drake's defamation lawsuit targeting the music corporation over Kendrick Lamar's track the diss record.

Judge the court’s judge determined that Lamar's song lyrics, which claimed Drake and his associates of being "certified paedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be considered defamatory.

The Canadian rapper filed the lawsuit in January, accusing UMG, the music company representing the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by allowing the track to be released and marketed, saying it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's representative said he planned to appeal the ruling. Universal Music Group said it was satisfied with the outcome and was eager to resuming its work with the musician.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

The diss song, which was first dropped in spring 2024, was widely seen as the decisive blow in an continuing feud between the competing artists.

It has become the biggest hit of Lamar's career, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-discussed moments of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.

In a detailed ruling, the judge called the row between the artists "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the history of rap music".

"Both rappers’ series of diss tracks was a 'war of words' that was the focus of substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the court noted.

"While the claim that plaintiff is a child predator is undoubtedly a serious one, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and offensive accusations exchanged by each artist, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'the track' imparts truthful statements about the claimant."

She additionally observed that, in an earlier song, the artist had "challenged his rival to make the pedophile claims" that featured in Not Like Us.

On the song his own release, Drake used the synthetic vocals of the late rapper to give Lamar advice on how to win the rap battle.

"Suggest he has a preference for minors, consider that a tip," the track proposed.

"Against this backdrop in which such lines as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be assessed," stated the court.

"The parallel in the phrasing strongly indicates that this line is a clear reference to Drake's lyrics in the prior song."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

Drake, whose legal name is Aubrey Graham, did not sue his rival in the lawsuit.

His legal team alleged UMG of initiating "an effort to create a viral hit" out of a track that made the "untrue claim that the artist is a criminal paedophile, and to suggest that the audience should turn to vigilante justice in response".

Ruling against Drake, the judge said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "replete with vulgar language, insults, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She highlighted that Drake himself had engaged in comparable rhetoric, referencing a line in which the star "strongly" suggested that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and a separate instance where he "claims that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's sons may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Although apparent statements of fact may take on the nature of subjective views... when made in public debate, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an listener may expect the use of epithets, passionate language or hyperbole."

Responding to the dismissal, a UMG representative said: "From the outset, this case was an affront to all artists and their artistic freedom and should not have been filed."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and are eager to resuming our partnership successfully marketing the artist’s work and investing in his artistic path," the representative added.

A representative for Drake said the rapper intended to contest the decision, "and we look forward to the Court of Appeals examining it".

Kendrick Lamar has not yet issue a statement on the case.